Bobcats stay hot at home, move within one win of 20 for the season

Published: Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 10:04 PM.

After trailing by as many as five points in the first quarter, Charlotte took the lead for good early in the second quarter and led by as many as 18 points before cruising to the win.

Biyombo continues to show more and more promise as the season wears on. Once rarely in the second-half playing rotation, Biyombo had 10 of his 13 points and nine of his game-high 17 rebounds after halftime.

“I’m just reading the game and I’m trying to keep doing my job,” Biyombo said.

The Bucks were led by reserve Mike Dunleavy’s 19 points and North Carolina rookie Johnson’s eight points and team-high 11 rebounds.

Notes: Entering the final three home dates of the year, the Bobcats rank 24th in the NBA in attendance with an average of 15,391 per game. That’s an upgrade from the 14,757 average of a year ago and apparently enough to convince many of the team’s season ticket-holders to renew for the 2013-14 season. “The measurement of temperature in this business … is ticket sales,” said Charlotte coach Mike Dunlap. “Right now, the ticket sales are really good for next year. It’s a tribute, one, to the Charlotte fans, and, two, that they’re seeing something out on that floor that’s hard to describe. I’ve heard we’re doing really well in our retention of our fans. So the point is that there’s signs that are really hard to articulate, but they’re happening.”…

CHARLOTTE – It wasn’t that long ago the Charlotte Bobcats couldn’t win at any venue.

But whether its health, better chemistry or simply wanting to finish the year strong, the Bobcats have created legitimate home court advantage at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Saturday was the latest example in a 95-85 win over playoff-bound Milwaukee.

It marks the sixth home victory in the last eight home games and it includes wins over two playoff-bound teams with losses only to Miami and Detroit. It also moves Charlotte (19-61) within one win over 20 victories one year after last season’s dubious record-setting 7-59 season.

“It feels good,” said second-year center Bismack Biyombo, who had his sixth double-double of the season with 13 points and 17 rebounds. “Me and my teammates were talking before the game about how we wanted to try and win these last three. We played with a lot of energy and played with a lot of passion.”

“It’s great,” said McRoberts, a February trade acquisition from Orlando who has shined for the Bobcats the last two months. “And when we can get some energy off the home crowd, it feels even better.”

After trailing by as many as five points in the first quarter, Charlotte took the lead for good early in the second quarter and led by as many as 18 points before cruising to the win.

Biyombo continues to show more and more promise as the season wears on. Once rarely in the second-half playing rotation, Biyombo had 10 of his 13 points and nine of his game-high 17 rebounds after halftime.

“I’m just reading the game and I’m trying to keep doing my job,” Biyombo said.

The Bucks were led by reserve Mike Dunleavy’s 19 points and North Carolina rookie Johnson’s eight points and team-high 11 rebounds.

Notes: Entering the final three home dates of the year, the Bobcats rank 24th in the NBA in attendance with an average of 15,391 per game. That’s an upgrade from the 14,757 average of a year ago and apparently enough to convince many of the team’s season ticket-holders to renew for the 2013-14 season. “The measurement of temperature in this business … is ticket sales,” said Charlotte coach Mike Dunlap. “Right now, the ticket sales are really good for next year. It’s a tribute, one, to the Charlotte fans, and, two, that they’re seeing something out on that floor that’s hard to describe. I’ve heard we’re doing really well in our retention of our fans. So the point is that there’s signs that are really hard to articulate, but they’re happening.”…

With Jennings out, Milwaukee gave former Central Cabarrus High and Wake Forest standout Ish Smith more playing time than usual. Smith, acquired from Orlando at the trade deadline in February, played 24 minutes and had nine points and seven assists.

Henson, an early entry player out of UNC who was the 14th pick in last summer’s draft, started for the seventh time this season, but he’s gained the respect of his teammates. “He’s done a nice job in the minutes he’s been on the floor,” Dunleavy said of Henson. “He hasn’t necessarily played a lot this season, but he’s stayed ready and he’s learned how to work as a rookie. He obviously brings incredible talent and length out there and has a bright future.”…

J.J. Redick, also acquired from Orlando in February, wasn’t booed as much as usual by the North Carolina-heavy Bobcats’ fan base, but the former Duke standout did hear catcalls like usual in his first game in Charlotte as a member of the Bucks….

The Bobcats have two more home games – Monday at 7 p.m. against New York and Wednesday at 8 p.m. against Cleveland.